Electronic Retailing Research Articles

A Digital Currency Architecture for Privacy and Owner-Custodianship

In recent years, electronic retail payment mechanisms, especially e-commerce and card payments at the point of sale, have increasingly replaced cash in many developed countries. As a result, societies are losing a critical public retail payment option, and retail consumers are losing important rights associated with using cash. To address this concern, we propose an approach to digital currency that would allow people without banking relationships to transact electronically and privately, including both internet purchases and point-of-sale purchases that are required to be cashless. Our proposal introduces a government-backed, privately-operated digital currency infrastructure to ensure that every transaction is registered by a bank or money services business, and it relies upon non-custodial wallets backed by privacy-enhancing technology such as blind signatures or zero-knowledge proofs to ensure that transaction counterparties are not revealed. Our approach to digital currency can also facilitate more efficient and transparent clearing, settlement, and management of systemic risk. We argue that our system can restore and preserve the salient features of cash, including privacy, owner custodianship, fungibility, and accessibility, while also preserving fractional reserve banking and the existing two-tiered banking system. We also show that it is possible to introduce regulation of digital currency transactions involving non-custodial wallets that unconditionally protect the privacy of end-users.

Role of IT capacity in customer churn for electronic retailers in oligopoly market using game theory approach

Role of IT capacity in customer churn for electronic retailers in oligopoly market using game theory approach

Approaches for solving current problems of pharmaceutical logistics during the pandemic period

The global economic crisis, which is linked to the coronavirus pandemic, has also affected pharmaceutical logistics. Therefore, the improvement of logistics processes within the pharmaceutical supply chain to increase the access to health care to the population in a pandemic becomes especially important.
 The aim of the work is to study and summarize the main problems of pharmaceutical logistics in a coronavirus pandemic and substantiate the reserves to improve the functioning of pharmaceutical supply chains.
 To achieve the goal of the study, an analysis of the domestic scientific literature and the current regulatory framework of Ukraine was conducted. It has used abstract-logical, monographic research methods and system analysis, as well as the method of expert survey.
 Realizing the importance of providing the population with necessary medicines during the pandemic in Ukraine on October 14, 2020, the Law «Changes to the article 19 of the Law of Ukraine "On Medicinal Products" on Electronic Retail Trade in Medicines» of September 17, 2020 № 904-IX has enforced.
 It has been evaluated the factors influencing the efficiency and coordination of the activities of pharmaceutical supply chain participants. A risk management algorithm for pharmaceutical supply chains has been developed, its structural elements and relationships have been identified. The presented algorithm will allow analyzing and estimating any deviations from the planned parameters in pharmaceutical supply chains on the basis of establishment of system of the corresponding indicators and on the basis of this information to define effective methods to counter the risks.
 The urgency of the problem of increasing the reliability and safety of domestic pharmaceutical supply chains in a pandemic has proved. It is justified that the introduction of digital technologies will increase the reliability, transparency and quality of business processes in the pharmaceutical supply chains during a pandemic, drastic changes in the pharmaceutical market and low predictability of demand for medicines and medical devices. The main problems of logistics in a pandemic in the domestic pharmaceutical industry are studied. It has established that the narrowest places in the organization of pharmaceutical supply chains are the improper organization of information exchange between pharmaceutical supply chain participants and the insufficient professional level of production interaction of managers. It has established the priority directions of increase of stability and reliability of functioning of pharmaceutical supply chains which is a necessary condition of accessibility of pharmaceutical provision of the population, especially in the conditions of a pandemic.

Strategic orientations and digital marketing tactics in cross-border e-commerce: Comparing developed and emerging markets

In this article, the impact of strategic orientations on the use of digital marketing tactics and, subsequently, on the international business performance of small electronic retailers (e-retailers) in cross-border electronic commerce (e-commerce) is analysed. Furthermore, these relationships are compared between e-retailers originating in both developed and emerging e-commerce markets. Using a sample of 446 small business-to-consumer e-retailers from 20 European countries, we find that the deployment of digital marketing tactics has a positive effect on international business performance. Of the strategic orientations examined, foreign market orientation is most associated with the use of digital marketing tactics. Remarkably, growth orientation only has a positive effect on e-retailers from developed e-commerce markets, while customer orientation negatively affects e-retailers from emerging e-commerce markets. The differences between e-retailers from developed and emerging e-commerce markets are prominent and show that markets should not be considered as either uniform or generalisable.

Raising the Responsible Child

Commercial activity trackers are increasingly being designed for children as young as 3 years old. However, we have limited understanding of family use practices around these trackers. To provide an overall view of how families naturally use activity trackers towards collaborative management of family health, we systematically identified 9 trackers designed for children available on 4 consumer electronics retailers. Our data is composed of 2,628 user reviews both from the consumer retailers (for the wearables) and mobile application stores (for the associated apps). Our findings indicate children's and parents' collaborative use of these technologies beyond health and wellness. Parents state that their children enjoy practicing independence and rewards while contributing to family health management and daily life requirements. Parents expect these devices to ease their life and to teach their children to become more responsible for their health, daily tasks, and schedule. However, the current designs give limited agency on child's side and require parents' active participation for wearable-app coordination. For these reasons, they do not fully address parents' expectations in decreasing their workload. On the other hand, they have the potential to facilitate family interaction with challenges structured around the data reported through trackers.

Building Consumers’ Trust in Electronic Retail Platforms in the Sub-Saharan Context: an exploratory study on Drivers and Impact on Continuance Intention

Lack of trust can have a negative influence on consumers’ willingness to use electronic retail (e-tail) platforms especially in countries with weak regulations and poor consumer rights. This paper examined factors that can be employed to build consumer trust and continuance intention to use e-tail platforms in Sub-Saharan Africa. Survey data was collected from 207 respondents and analyzed using structural equation modeling with the PLS software. The results show that information quality, perceived usefulness, hedonic motivation, and perceived risk have a significant influence on consumers’ trust in e-tail platforms. The study contributes to the existing body of knowledge that guides efforts for the implementation of actions in weak institutional contexts characterized by institutional voids such as those experienced in Sub-Saharan African countries. Finally, the study provides insights that can help managers of e-tail platforms to effectively foster the development of trust in their communities.

A study on service quality expectation from electronics retail store using RSQS.

In the fast-changing environment where all the service sectors are having a ferocious competition with their close competitors, every service-based industry wanted to grab more attention and sales. They knew the key factor to success and Brand loyalty is as per the quality of service. This research paper studies the expectations of service quality from the consumer side and how the service provider specified in the electronics retail industry is delivering the same. Pre-sales and after-sales services and the quality of on-time sales services are on the utmost requirements of the customers nowadays.

A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Electronic Retail of Household Products

Electronic shopping is getting more and more popular, and it is not only clothes and electronics that people buy online, but groceries and household products too. Based on real-life data from a major cosmetics and household products retailer in the Czech Republic, this study set to assess the life cycle environmental impact of parcel delivery. Two archetype parcels containing common household and hygiene products were designed and packed in two distinct ways, and the environmental impact was quantified using the Life Cycle Assessment method. It showed that it is environmentally beneficial to use plastic cushions to insulate the goods instead of paper. However, the most important process contributing to the environmental burden was found to be electricity consumption in the logistics center. Hence, the importance of energy efficiency and efficient space utilization was demonstrated on alternative scenarios. Since the cardboard box the goods are packed in turned out to be another important contributor, an alternative scenario was designed where a reusable plastic crate was used instead. Even though the scenario was based on several simplistic assumptions, it showed a clear potential to be environmentally beneficial. In the study, contribution of other processes was scrutinized, as well as sensitivity to variation of parameters, e.g. transportation distances. The main scientific contribution of this work is to show the importance of logistics and distribution of products to end customers in the rapidly developing field of electronic retail of household products.

Flexible and Committed Advertising Contracts in Electronic Retailing

Many advertising agents offer flexible advertising contracts wherein firms have the flexibility of adjusting their level of advertising during the advertising campaign, whereas some agents also offer committed contracts wherein firms do not have this flexibility. Based on our analysis, we would recommend that e-retailing firms choose the flexible contracts, which give them the flexibility of adjusting their advertising spending during the advertising campaign and make them better off. We also send a clear message to e-retailers that their leverage of engaging in flexible competition is contingent on the size of their operational costs. In particular, as operational costs decrease, they should be more mindful of engaging in the flexible competition. However, from the standpoint of advertising agents (e.g., Facebook.com ), because firms’ advertising efforts are lower in flexible than committed competition, we would recommend that the advertising agents adopt differential pricing schemes under the two modes of competition. In particular, the agents need to offer discounts to the e-retailers signing flexible advertising contracts so as to step up the advertising competition. In addition, our findings also provide the advertising agents with guidance on how to determine the optimal value for the discounts to be offered.

Value creation analysis using atomic business models: The case of Digikala e-retailer – Part B

One of the reasons most startups fail, despite their growing number, is the inability and lack of flexibility of their business models in responding to market changes. In addition, due to the uncertainty of the startups’ environment, it is difficult to gain competitive advantage; startups need to continuously change their business models. One of the most common electronic business models is the electronic retailer. Despite the many challenges facing e-retailers due to market changes and customer preferences, Digikala has been ranked as the most popular and most visited website and has managed to gain over 85% of the Iranian retail market share. The purpose of this study is to analyze the value creation in Digikala in order to answer the following questions: Through which atomic business model can business value be realized? What change strategies should be applied to be able to provide a unique and stable value and be successful?

Analyzing value creation in electronic retailing: The case of Digikala–Part A

Many e-commerce businesses are emerging in the form of start-ups in Iran. Plenty of these businesses fail to gain significant market share. Electronic retail stores are among the most commonly used electronic business models. Despite the many challenges facing e-retailers due to market changes and customer preferences, Digikala has been ranked as the most popular and most visited website and has managed to gain over 85% of the Iranian retail market. In addition, Digikala is one of the largest electronic retailers in the Middle East. This study aims at analyzing value creation in Digikala in order to overcome these challenges and answering the following question: What value does Digikala create?

Omni-channel capability and customer satisfaction: mediating roles of flexibility and operational logistics service quality

PurposeThis study aims to reveal how omni-channel capability leads to customer satisfaction by examining the mediating roles of flexibility and operational logistics service quality (LSQ).Design/methodology/approachConsumers who had previously shopped from any particular retailer's both online and physical stores were surveyed to collect data on research constructs. Structural equation modelling and bootstrapping were employed to test research hypotheses.FindingsThis study shows the double mediation of flexibility and operational LSQ in the effect of omni-channel capability on customer satisfaction. Despite this indirect effect, omni-channel capability does not directly affect customer satisfaction, implying the full mediations of flexibility and operational LSQ. However, these mediating effects could not be verified for certain types of retailers (e.g. electronic retailers).Originality/valueBy using the theoretical lens of capability–service quality–performance triad (C-SQ-P), this study shows how omni-channel capability and flexibility affect customer satisfaction through operational LSQ. Hence, an original finding is that developing omni-channel capability may not be sufficient for customer satisfaction and that it may need to be supported by flexibility and operational LSQ. It additionally reveals that the mediations of flexibility and operational LSQ hinge on the type of retailing industry examined. Thus, this study draws on the necessity of investigating the contingent roles of flexibility and operational LSQ in omni-channel retailing for customer satisfaction.

E-Tailing: Security and Privacy Issues in India

In India, electronic retailing signifies small portion but holds enormous business potential with the help of cumulative usage of internet, smartphones, private equity investors, cash-on-delivery (COD), growing working class, lack of organized retailers, easy online payments, changing demographic lifestyles are the main factors motivating the electronic retailing in India. Online shopping site will store the customers’ data like credit card details, bank account information, and personal data, without having proper security measures at place these sites are at high risk of misplacing/losing customers’ data. In this paper we will discuss security, privacy associated problems to e-commerce and their solutions. Keywords: E-tailing, security, privacy, e-commerce, security threat solutions Cite this Article: Rajesh P.S., S.K. Prasad. E-Tailing: Security and Privacy Issues in India. E-Commerce for Future & Trends. 2020; 7(1): 11–18p.

¿Cómo varían los efectos de la innovación en el comercio minorista? Un análisis por categoría de producto

The present work deals with the study of the antecedents and consequences of satisfaction in retailing through two variables of special relevance, such as innovation and store image. By differentiating between innovation in marketing and in technology, the goal is twofold: to analyze the chain of effects innovation in marketing (technological innovation - image - satisfaction – word-of-mouth) and to study the moderating effect of activity sector in these relationships. Based on a sample of 820 customers from food, textile, home and electronics retailers, on the one hand, the results confirm the chain of relationships; and the category of the commercialized product also moderates the influence of image on satisfaction. There are important academic and business implications, as well as interesting lines for further research in this field. Among them, it should be noted that marketing innovation influences on technological innovation. Thus, the consumer perceives the adoption of new ideas by the store as a relevant antecedent of its technological development. The influence of technological innovation on the consumer’s image about the store has also been confirmed. Moreover, image shows a significant impact on satisfaction, and satisfaction influences on loyalty. Finally, the results confirm that the influence of image on customer satisfaction is different based on the activity sector of the store.

Evaluating the online shopping behavior among Egyptian college-educated community

PurposeIn a dynamic environment, understanding the consumer’s behavior in an online market is critical for the development of online retailers’ strategies. In Egypt, although the number of internet users is growing rapidly, online shopping is at an early stage of development. In addition, there is a lack of knowledge about the behavior of Egyptians toward online shopping and the factors that influence their behavior.Design/methodology/approachTo demonstrate the applicability of the technology acceptance model (TAM), this research applies an extended TAM to analyze the factors that impact the Egyptian consumers’ online shopping behavior. Structural equation modeling is used for fitting the data and testing the hypothesis.FindingsFindings revealed that perceived enjoyment, perceived ease of use, social norm and perceived risk have significant influences on the respondents to shop online; while the site language effect was insignificant.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has mainly four limitations. The first concerning the sample, it should cover diversified areas other than Cairo and should include respondents from different education levels. Future studies may consider using a national sample of current and potential online shoppers to be able to generalize the results. Second, the questionnaire should include questions about the levels of education and the level of income to analyze if they influence actual online shopping. Third, although the benefits of using online surveys such as reducing the costs and time and collecting data more accurately compared to paper-pencil surveys, the low response rate may lead to non-response bias. Finally, constructs such as website content, design, and response could be added to the TAM to examine different aspects of website functionalities on the actual shopping.Originality/valueConsidering that online shopping is still at the early stage of development in Egypt, there is a need to examine the factors that influence the behavior of Egyptian consumers while adopting online shopping. To fill in this gap, this study is analyzing the factors impacting the consumers’ decisions to shop online by examining a sample of students from the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University. This study will contribute to providing an empirical application of the TAM on the Egyptian consumers in addition to, enhancing the knowledge of electronic retailers about the factors that drive consumers toward shopping online.

3D female upper body modelling based on 2D images

Purpose With the rapid advancement of computer information technology, the traditional clothing industry has stridden towards automation and digitization that drive the growth of electronic commerce and line retailing. The purpose of this paper is to propose an approach on 3D upper body modelling based on the body measurements extracted by non-contact anthropometry. Design/methodology/approach Based on the frontal and side images of the human body, the body sizes were extracted through silhouette extraction, identification of landmarks and girth prediction. The generation rules of 15 characteristic cross-sectional curves were established using a method “feature points – inserted points – feature curves – basic surface – mannequin”. The feature points of each position were determined at each curve, such as the side neck point, front neck point, shoulder point, bust point, and bust root point and so on to get the cross-sections, and then some feature points were inserted at the curves according to the widths and depths to establish the calculative models. For example, there are 18 points distributed at the bust cross-sectional curve to determine the shape. Findings The final mannequin could describe the basic characteristics of a human body, and the shape of the feature curves could also fit the body type to provide basis for the future research on automatic pattern generation. Originality/value This study can realize the 3D virtual modelling of female upper body and the automatic generation of the individualized apparel patterns based on the frontal and side images.

Predicting the Return of Orders in the E-Tail Industry Accompanying with Model Interpretation

Electronic Retailing (E-tailing) is one of the most impactful technology trends of recent times. This industry has dramatically enhanced the quality of human lives allowing people to shop online while having the comfort of their homes. In developing countries like Bangladesh, this industry is still rising and creating a significant economic impact. However, there exist a lot of challenges such as the return of orders that affects the growth of an E-tailer and causes revenue losses. This study addresses this most common business challenge in the E-tail industry and performs predictive modeling using 4 different state-of-the-art data mining techniques to help the industry smoothen its curve of growth. Along with predictive modeling, this study also aims to find out the most important features that influence the return of orders.

<i>Electronic money and retail payments: opportunities for the implementation of banks ‘ savings services</i>

<i>Electronic money and retail payments: opportunities for the implementation of banks ‘ savings services</i>

CUSTOMERS READINESS FOR A PARADIGM SHIFT TOWARDS CYBERSPACE: AN EXPLORATORY INVESTIGATION IN INDIAN RETAIL BANKING

The present study is an exploratory investigation in the Indian retail banking sector with the purpose of understanding the drivers of adoption of information and communication technology (ICT) in the retail banking services. The study attempts to achieve the research objective by presenting a triadic view-point of customers, industry, and policymakers. The study is an academic attempt to understand the views of customers, regulators, and banking industry about the traditional brick and mortar, and ATM models, identify various factors that may impact use of ICT to access retail banking services. While the trends in the usage of digital payments including ICT-based delivery channels for accessing retail banking services have been examined to gain demand side perspective, the examination of trends in growth of bank branches and ATMs network have been carried out to verify whether the banks are still focussing on building the brick and mortar, and ATM models of retail banking. It is found that there is a gap between the available infrastructure to support the electronic retail banking platform and the one expected by the retail banking customers for a paradigm shift towards cyberspace.

Naval Supply Systems Command Change Management Support Solicitation: Bid or No-Bid (A)

Cowan and Associates (C&A) provided strategic planning, business planning, change management, performance measurement, and knowledge management support to various Navy commands. Its managing director, Jeff Pottinger, was contemplating a Request for Proposal to provide change management support services to the Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Pottinger was intimately aware of the significant change management challenges facing NAVSUP through his experience with several previous contracts supporting NAVSUP, and he knew his company had the capability to support its requirements. He was meeting with C&A's founder and president and its CFO to discuss this opportunity and whether to devote scarce resources to writing a winning proposal. Excerpt UVA-S-0222 Rev. Mar. 18, 2020 Naval Supply Systems Command Change Management Support Solicitation: Bid or No-Bid (A) Jeff Pottinger sat in his office in Arlington, Virginia, contemplating the Request for Proposal (RFP) in his hands. Here was an opportunity to provide change management support services to the Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Pottinger had retired out of NAVSUP in 2001 after serving 24 years of commissioned service. As a Supply Corps Officer, he had gained extensive leadership, logistics, and financial management experience, in both his sea and shore assignments. His logistics assignments had included positions in transportation, warehousing, material-handling operations, inventory management, and operational logistics. After retiring, Pottinger had spent a year with a large DoD consulting firm before going to work for a big-box electronics retailer, overseeing a two-state district of eight retail stores with $ 100 million in annual sales. Pottinger joined Cowan & Associates, Inc. (C&A) in late 2005 and for the past six years had provided strategic planning, business planning, change management, performance measurement, and knowledge management support to various Navy commands. Additionally, Pottinger provided executive education support to the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration and the Naval Postgraduate School. As managing director of the firm, he played a key role in determining which opportunities the company would pursue, coordinating the company's response to key proposals (especially those for strategic customers), and determining how the company would execute a contract it had won. . . .